Ergotism in Norway. Part 1: The symptoms and their interpretation from the late Iron Age to the seventeenth century

摘要: Ergotism is a horrendous disease with grotesque symptoms caused by ingesting specific ergot alkaloids. Mass poisoning episodes are attributable to consumption of grain - usually rye infected the fungus Claviceps purpurea. By focusing on possible cases ergotism, we re-examine Norwegian history from sagas through end seventeenth century. Our review not intended be exhaustive, or ex post facto assign medical psychiatric labels draws attention very real possibility that many remarkable may have been result ingestion highly poisonous and psychoactive food substances. Where highlight explanations given at time often rooted in religion demonology explain disease.